Box strap machine



(No Model.) 11Sheets-Sheet1.` J. J. WOLF & N. G. ROSS.

* B0X STRAP MACHINE. No. 584,975. Pm-,ented June 22, 189i?.

(No Model.) l1 Sheets--Sheet 2, J. J. WOLF 8v N. G. ROSS. BOX STRAPMACHINE.

Patented June 22,1897.

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J. J. WOLF 8v N. G. ROSS. B0X STRAP MACHINE.

No. 584,975. Patented June 22, 1897.

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(No Model.) J. J. WOLF 8a N. G. ROSS.

BOX STRAP MACHINE Patented June 22,1897.

(No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. J. WOLF 8v N. G. ROSS. BOX STRAP MACHINE No. 584,975. Patented J'une22,1897.

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(No Model.) 1l Sheets-Sheet 6.

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BOX STRAP MACHINE Patented June.22,189'7.

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(No Model.)

J. J. WOLIl & N. G. ROSS. BOX STRAP MACHINE.

Patented June 22,1897.

(No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 8.

J. J. WOLII 8a N. G. ROSS.

BOX STRAP MACHINE.

Patented June 22, 1897.

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Patented June 22,1897.

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J; J. WOLF 8v N. G. ROSS. BOX STRAP MACHINE.

(No Model.) 111 snets -sneen 10. J. J. WOLF 8v N. G. ROSS. BOX STRAPMACHINE No. 584,975. Patented June 22,1897.

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BOX STRAP MACHINE IIIIIIIIIIIIL Patented .June 22.1897.-

lUNITl-n) STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

JULIUS'J. WOLF AND NOBLE G. ROSS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AS- SIGNORSTO'TI-IE WOLF SAFETY BOX-STRAP COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BOX-STRAP MACHINE.

SPl'sXLIlICATIOhT forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 584,97 5, dated .Iune 22, 1897'.

Application filed October 8,1896. Serial No. 608,297. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.: i

Be it known that we, JULIUS J. WOLF and NOBLE G. Ross, of Kansas City,Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in BOX-Strap Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part thereof.

1o Our invention relates to machines formanufacturing flexible metallicbox-straps; and it consists in certain novel and peculiar features ofconstruction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The object of the invention is to produce a machine of this characterwhich will automatically and positively and reliably form a iieXiblecable and string nails thereon sezo curely at regular intervals and withtheir shanks projecting rigidly in the same direction, and which willalso beard or barb said nails in order to render difiicult theirwithdrawal from the boards, crates, barrels, 85e.,

into which they are driven, and consequently insure that-such boxes,&c., when once secured will remain in such condition until the nails arewrenched or pried out by a suitable instrument. 1

In order that the invention may be fully understood, We will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawin gs,

in which- AFigure 1 represents a top plan View of a machine constructedin accordance withI our invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation ofthe same with the nail-wire-feedingmechanism omitted. Fig. 3 is a viewof the opposite side of the machine. Fig. 4 is a 4o cross-section takenon the line IV IV of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the lineV V of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line VI VI ofFig. 1. Fig. 7 is a crosssection, on a greatly-enlarged scale, taken onthe line VII VII of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a crosssection,also `on agreatly-enlarged scale, taken on the line VIII VIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 isa vertical longitudinal section of the sliding carrier and discloses themechanism for split- 5o ting the nail-wire. Fig. 10 is a verticallongitudinal section on the same scale as Fig. 9

and discloses clearly the mechanism for barbing or bearding the nailsand for twisting the cable and the nails upon said cable. Fig. 11 is anend view of the mechanism for twisting or coiling the nail upon thecable. Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 13 are detailed views, aboutfull size, of the mechanism for barbing or bearding the nails. Fig. 19is a perspective view of the stand-plate or casting 6o through and bywhich the barbing or bearding knife carriers extend. Figs. 20, 21, 22,23, and 24 represent views of the nail-forming knives. Fig. 25 is aview, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, ofthe wire-twisting shaft. Fig. 26 is a side elevation of a part of themachine and discloses the push-and-pull rod by which the carrier isreciprocated.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein 7o like numerals designatecorresponding parts,

1 designates the legs, and 2 the bed-frame, of

our machine.

3 designates the drive-pulley, which is mounted rigidly on one end ofthe longitudinal drive-shaft 4, journaled at or near its opposite endsin bearings 5 of or secured to the bed-frame. Near its front end itcarries rigidly a spur gear or pinion (i and near its opposite end abevel-gear 7. Arranged oppo- 8o site the rear end of said shaft in thesame horizontal plane and extending at right angles thereto is a shortshaft 8, journaled in a bearing or standard 9, mounted upon thebed-frame. At one end said shaft carries rigidly a beveled gear 10,meshing with the beveled gear 7, and at the opposite end a spur gear orpinion 1l. r

12 designates a longitudinal shaft interposed between the shaft 4 andthe bed-frame. 9o It occupies a lower plane than said shaft in orderthat it may pass freely beneath the shaft S, and is journaled inbearings 13, supported upon and extending laterally from the bedframe.Mounted rigidly upon said shaft at its front end is a spur-gear 14,meshing with the pinion 6, and said shaftis prevented from movinglongitudinally by means of the collars 15 at opposite sides of one ofits bearings 13.

16 designates a double-groove cam mounted rigidly upon shaft 12 near itsfront end and IOO engaging the antifriction-roller 17, carried bycrank-shaft 18 of the transverse rock-shaft 19, which shaft is journaledin bearings 20 upon the bed-.frame and extends at right angles to theshaft 12. Said rock-shaft is provided with a erank-arm 21 at its middle,and a retractile spring 22 connects the upper end of said arm with thestandard 23, cast with or secured upon the bed-frame at its front end.Said arm is also pivotally connected with the front end of apush-and-pull rod 24. Said rod is pivotally connected at its rear end tothe depending lug 25 of the sliding bed-plate 2G of a carrier, to bepresently described. Said bed-plate is dovetailed in the stationarysupporting and guide frame 27, provided with depending legs 2S, whichare bolted or otherwise rigidly secured upon the bed-frame of themachine.

29 and 30 designate plates which may be east integrally with or securedupon the bedplate, as preferred. They project, however, beyond the sidemargins of the bed-plate 2G, and rest upon the horizontal guide and sup-)orting frame 27.

31 designates a pair of oppositely-disposed bearings in which isjournaled the horizontal transverse crank-shaft 32, and mounted upon oneend of the same is a spur-gear 33, meshing with and driven continuouslyby the pinion 11. The bearing at the right-hand side, when lookingtoward the front end of the machine, is integrally formed, preferably,with the stand-plate 34, cast with or secured upon the plate 2f) of thecarrier. The opposite bearing 31 is preferably cast integral with alongitudinal stand-plate 35, which stand-plate may be cast integral withor secured upon the plate 30. Said plate 35 is provided with twoinclined ribs 3G and 37 and with a slot 3S, which extends radially ofthe axis of the shaft 32 and inclines downwardly and forwardly, as shownclear] yin Fig. 2. Arranged at the inner side of said stand-plate aretwo plates 3.0 and 40. The plate 39 is shown in Fig. 7 as integrallyforlned with the plate 30, but may be secured to said plate or to thestand-plate 35, if desired. The plate 40 is secured to said stand-plateby means of the bolts 42. The opposing edges of said plates are beveled,as shown at 41, and the plates are arranged so as to provide a passage,the opposing walls of which converge inwardly and which extends radiallyof the axis of the shaft 32, as clearly shown in Fig. f). This relationof said plates is secured by means of the pair of plates 43 upon theupper ends of the ribs 3G and 37, and the clamping-bolts 44 and 45,which extend through said plates into and upon, respectively, the plate35 and the plate 40.

4G designates a reciprocatory knife-carrier which is dovetailed in thepassage formed by and between the plates 39 and 40, and 47 designates alongitudinal rib of the same, which fits in the longitudinal slot 3S ofthe plate 35. Said knife-carrier is provided with a longitudinal slot50, in which is rigidly but adjustably mounted the knife 51.

The knife is secured in position by means of a clamping screw-bolt 43,which extends through a longitudinal slot 40 in the rib of theknife-carrier. By loosening said bolt the knife can be adjustedlongitudinally and then secured at the required point by the properoperation of the clamping-bolt. Said knife is provided at its front endwith a longitudinal slot 52, engaged in the lower end of the guidebolt53, carried by the knife-frame, as shown clearly in Fig. 9. The knife ismade longitudinally adjustable by means of said screw 54, which bears atits head end against the enlargement 55 of the knife-carrier. Saidenlargement is hollowed out, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. E), andextending through said chamber or cavity is the pivot-bolt 56, uponwhich the front end of the pitlnan 57 is journaled, the rear end of saidpitman being journaled upon the crank or eecentrically-disposed arm ofthe shaft 32, so that with each revolution of said shaft theknife-carrier and the knife will alternately advance and recede for apurpose which will hereinafter appear.

The knife 51 at its front end is laterally widened, as shown at 85 atone side and as shown at 5S) at the opposite side, said enlargement 59being of greater length vertically than the enlargement 58 and dependingalso below the plane of the body of the knife. The front and lower edgeof the knife, preferably at an angle slightly acute to its longitudinaldisposition, is grooved, as shown, so as to produce a cutting edge andan overhan gin g shoulder. The horizontal portion of the cutting edge(50 is in the plane and of equal length to the width of the body of theknife. At one end said cutting edge extends upwardly and outwardly toproduce the inclined cuttingsurface 6l, extending at an obtuse angle tothe body portion, while at the other end said cutting edge isapproximately V-shaped, as shown at G2, the apex of said V-shaped edgeoccupying the plane of the lower side of the nail-wire which is to becut, while the upper end of the inclined cutting-surface 61 occupies theplane of said overhanging shoulder and of the upper side of said wire.

r1`he stand-plate 35 at its front end is provided with a recess G3 andwith an upwardlyprojecting lug 64 at the front end of said recess, andfitting snugly in said recess is a bar 65, provided with a longitudinalslot 66, and mounted adjustably upon said bar and within said recess isthe lower or stationary knife 67, the upper surface of which is slightlybelow the plane of the lower surface of the reciprocating knife. Saidknife 67 is provided with a longitudinal slot 68, and the knifemarginally of said slot is countersunk, as shown at 69, to receive thehead of the screw-bolt 70, by which said knife is clamped at the desiredpoint of adjustment. As the knife is resharpened its thickness isgradually diminished, and as it is necessary that its cutting IOO IIO

edge or upper surface be always in the same plane the bar 65 is arrangedto support it, said bar of course being detachable in order that as theknife is ground down it may be replaced by a similar bar of increasedthickness sufflcient to compensate for the reduced thickness of theknife. Said plate also has an arm 66 at its front end to forni a backingto prevent vthe withdrawal of the reciprocatory knife drawing the nailback with it. At its front end said knife is widened at one side, asshown at 71, and is grooved, as shown at 72, so that when the upper orreciprocating knife is about to split the nail-wire its corresponding oropposing recess forms the upper and rear sides of a rectangular orsquare passage, in which the wire is securely held while being operatedupon, as shown clearly in Fig. 9. The cutting edge 73 of said lowerknife is providedwith a V-shaped notch 74 at one end to correspond withand receive the V-shaped cutting edge of the upper knife in order thatthe nail previously formed shall be severed from the body of the wire atthe same time that the latter is reduced in thickness by being split fora suitable distance by the horizontal cutting edges and 73 of theknives. It will be observed by referring particularly to Fig. 24 thatthe vertical distance between Athe apex of said V-shaped cutting edgesand their highest points is equal to or slightly exceeds the thicknessof the nailwire in order that this cutting edge or surface will severthe advanced portion of the wire from the body portion, and it will alsobe noted that the portion lying above the plane of the cutting edges 60and 73 is severed completely from the body of the wire by reason of thefact that the beveled cutting edge 61 extends from one end of saidhorizontal cutting edges 60 and 73 to the upper edge of the wire, so asto leave the body of the wire provided with a reduced extensionrepresented by that portion lying between the horizon/tal cutting edgesof said knives, the bottom of the recess 72 of the lower cuttingknife,and the V-shaped cutting edges of said knives, as will be readilyunderstood.

The plate 34 is provided at opposite sides of an opening 75 therein withthe guide-rib 76 and the lug 77, provided with set-screws 78, wherebythe guide-block 79 may be adjusted toward or from said guide rib 76.Said block is provided with a pair of slots 80, through which extend thesupportingscrews8l.

82 designates a slide-frame which is arl ranged vertically and dovetaledbetween the guide-rib 76 and the guide-block 79, and said frame isprovided with a channeled arm 83, which projects upwardly and outwardlythrough the opening1 75 of plate 34, and also with an upwardly-projecting arm 84, recessed to form the shoulder 85 and the overhanging arm 86.Extending downwardly through the arm 86 is a set-screw 87, whichimpinges firmly upon the lever 88, connected pivotally at 89 to thevertically-adj ustable plate 90, secured by bolt 91 to the inner side ofthe plate 34, between the guide-rib 76 and the ange 92, projectinginwardly from the front end of said plate 34. The opposite end of saidlever is pivotally connected to the upper end of a, pitman 93, mountedupon the-crankshaft 32.

The lower end of the sliding frame 82 is provided with an inclinedrecess 94, corresponding to the inclination of and communieating withthe channel 95 of the arm 83 of said frame. The lower end of said frameis formed, preferably, of a plate 96, secured by screw-bolts 97 to thelower end of the frame 82 at opposite sides of the channel 95, which itbridges. Said plate is provided with a groove 98 in its under side,which extends longitudinally of the machine, and forward of said grooveis provided with the horizontal shoulder 99.

100 designates the head of the upper barbing or bearding knife, and itis provided with a horizontal series of downwardly and inwardly disposedteeth 101, the lower edges of which occupy, normally, the plane of theshoulder 99 and are adapted, when advanced, to occupy a slightly lowerplane. Said head ts slidingly into groove 94, formed in the lower end ofthe sliding frame and between the same and the plate 96 and is providedwith a stem or shank 102, which occupies the channel of the arm 83 ofsaid frame, and mounted in the end of said stem or shank is a set-screw103, whereby the reciprocatory movement of said knife may be regulated.

In practice as the crank-shaft 32 revolves the lever 88 alternatelyrises and falls a distance sufiicient to receive between the upper andlower (not yet described) barbing or beardin g knives the cablehereinafter described and the nails hereinbefore referred to to bebarbed.

Arranged vertically below the barbing or bearding knife just describedis the companion or lower barbing or bearding knife. It comprises thehead 104, provided with upwardly and inwardly projecting teeth 105 andwith a stem or shank 106, extending downwardly and outwardly from its'series of teeth. Said head rests upon the knife-carrier 107, which isbolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the plate 29 or bed-plate of thecarrier and is provided with a channeled arm or extension 108, whichprojects downwardly and outwardly through the opening 75 of plate 34 andis occupied by the stem or shank 106 of the lower knife. Thereciprocatory movement of said knife may be regulated also by means of aset-screw 109, mounted at its end, and it is held downward in properposition by means of the bridge-plate 110, secured by screw-bolts 111 tothe frame 107. Said bridgeplate, which corresponds to the plate 96 ofthe upper frame, is provided with an opposing longitudinal groove 112and shoulder 113, interposed between said groove and the teeth IOC IIO

of the cutting-knife. The function of said grooves 08 and 112 and theshoulders 00 and 113 will be hereinafter described.

The reciprocatory knives are normally rctracted by means of the spring114, which bears at its opposite ends against the shoulders 115,projecting from said knives, and said spring finds its resistance orfulcrum point against the guide-bar 116, secured to and projectingoutwardly from the plate 29. At its outer end the bar is bent to formthe hook or stop arm 117 to limit the outward movement of the lever 118.Said lever is pivotally mounted at 110 in the arm 83 of the slide-frame82 and bears against the adjustable set-screw 103 of the upper knife. Asecond lever 120 is pivotally mounted at 121 in the arm 108 of theknife-frame 107 and bears against the set-screw 100 of the lower knife.It also finds a bearing at its free end against the inner side of thelever 118, the arrangement being such that when said lever 118 isoperated it causes the operation of the lever 120 and the forward andupper movement of both barbing and bcarding knives, and when said lever118 resumes its original position said knives are simultaneouslyretracted by means of the spring 114. Said knives in practice areadvanced twice with each revolution of shaft 12, and in order toaccomplish this we mount a collar 122 rigidly upon said shaft, providedwith a pair of diametrically opposite arms 123,which successively engagethe lower or free end of and operate the lever 118, said lever beinglimited as to its outward movement by the hook or stop arm 117 of bar116.

Arranged in longitudinal alinement with the center of the space formedby and between the two grooves 98 and 112 and extending from a pointadjacent to the front end of the carrier beyond the front end of thebedframe is the twister-shaft 124, said shaft being journaled inbearings 125 at the upper ends of the standards 126, which are arrangedat opposite sides of the push-and-pull rod 24, hereinbefore described.Said twister-shaft for the greater half of its length-that is, therearward halfis diametrically increased slightly and is provided atdiametrically opposite points with longitudinal grooves 127, whichgrooves are bridged at 128 at its journal-points in said bearings, andrearward of the rearmost bearing said grooves converge graduallyinwardto the apex of the sharpened or conical end of the shaft, as shown at120, which end we shall hereinafter term the mandrel end, for a reasonwhich will hereinafter appear. At the opposite or front end of the shaftis rigidly mounted a disk or collar 130, provided at diametricallyopposite points with the apertures 131, through which extend the wires132, which when twisted together form the flexible cable upon which thenails are strung. Said wires extend through said longitudinal grooves127 and come together at the apex of said shaft. As the wear upon theshaft at this point is exceedingly severe,

it is provided, preferably, with an extremely hard metal core 133, whichmay be removed at little expense and replaced when necessary by a newone.

The twister-shaft in operation makes several revolutions in onedirection and then reverses said motion and makes an equal number ofrevolutions in the opposite direction,

so as to alternately twist the wires forming the cable in oppositedirections, and at the junction of said oppositely-twisted portions thenails hereinbefore referred to are secured and therefore prevent theuntwisting or unraveling of said wires. The manner of securing saidnails upon said cable at such points will be hereinafter described. Saidshaft at a suitable point is provided with a small cog-wheel 134, whichmeshes continuously with a larger cog-wheel 135, mounted rigidly upon ashort longitudinal shaft 136, journaled in bearings 137, and shaft 136is provided with a small cog-wheel 138 and with a similar cog-wheel 139.The latter meshes continuously with and is driven by a cogwheel 140 ofthe same diameter, mounted upon a short shaft 141, journaled in bearings142 at the upper ends of the standards 143, bolted to the bed-frame.Said shaft occupies a lower horizontal plane than the shaft 136 and isprovided also with a second and similar-sized cog-wheel 144, whichcog-wheel is adapted to be engaged and operated at times by themutilated spur-gear 145, mounted rigidly upon the shaft 12. A secondmutilated spur-gear 146 is mounted upon said shaft 12 and is adapted toengage and operate the cogwheel 138 when the engagement betweencogwheels 144 and 145 ceases. By this arrangement it is obvious that thecontinuously-rotating shaft 12, through the medium of the' mutilatedgear-wheels 145 and 146 and the gearing just described, causes the shaft124 to make a number of revolutions in one direction and then reversesuch movement, this operation being constantly repeated as long as themachine is in operation.

In order to twist or coil the reduced end of the nail-wire upon thecable, we employ the following elements-that is to say: 147 designateswhat will hereinafter be termed the nail twisting or eoiling sleeve, andit is mounted rotatably upon the mandrel end of the shaft 124 and isjournaled in the bearing 148, bolted or otherwise secured to the plate20 or the bed-plate 26, and in order to insure that said sleeve willreciprocate longitudinally upon said shaft when the carrier moves backand forth it is provided with annular flanges 140, which embrace theopposite sides of the bearing 148. At its front end said sleeve isformed with or rigidly carries a cogwheel 150, which meshes continuouslywith the segment 151, mounted loosely upon the rear end of a stub-shaft151, suitably journaled above the bed-fralnc. The hub of this segment isformed with a pair of arms 152 and 153, respectively. Said arms areadapted IOO IIO

teeth 153 and 152 successively and raise the segment 151, andconsequently rotate said sleeve and twist the reduced end of the nailtightly upon the cable. Said twist is completed as the carrier beginsits return move- .ment, and at the same instant the segment,

being relieved of engagement with said set of teeth 154, starts itsdescent. This movement, which would take place by gravity, isfacilitated and insured by means of a retractile spring 156, attached atits lower end to the bed-frame or to an adjustable bracket 157, boltedthereto, (see Fig. 3,) and at its upper end to a chain or cable 158,said chain or cable being secured at its upper end to the hub of thesegment and preferably in the groove of said hub, as shown clearly at159 in Fig. 1. To limit the downward movement of said segment at theproper point, we employ, pret'- erably, a cushion-stop 160, secured tothe upper end of the bracket 157 and adapted to be engaged by one of theteeth 154 of the set, which has just passed from engagement with theteeth or arms of the segment-hub. As the Wear and tear, however, wouldstill be too great upon the nail twisting or coilingV sleeve if thesegment was permitted to descend its full distance without beingchecked, the collar 155 is provided with an arm 161 at its front end,which clears the narrow arm or tooth 152, but is adapted to be contactedby the Wider arm or tooth 158 before the segment has completed itsdescent. The continued rotation of the shaft 12 then moves the arm 161out of the way and permits the segment instantly to resume its depressedposition and be ready for an immediate relevat-ion by reason of thesecond set of teeth 154 coming in contact with the teeth or arms 153 and152 to twist or coil the next nail upon the cable. Thus it will be seenthat one complete revolution of the shaft 12 causes the twister-sleeveto make its operations in each direction, and at the same time thedouble cam 16 causes the carrier to make two complete reciprocations.

As will be observed by reference particularly to Fig. 2, the pinion 11,rotating continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow, tends, byreason of its engagement with the spur-gear '33, to move the carrierrearward at all times by a succession of jerks, and owing to the factthat there must be a certain amount of play between the actuatingcam 16and the roller 17 of the crank-shaft 19 it is obvious that thistendencyof the carrier to move by a series of jerks is not overcome.Consequently to counteract the effect of the engagement of said pinionwith said wheel and to insure that the movement of the carrier shall beperfectly uniform and even and also to place all of the work of movingsaid carrier where it rightfully belongs-viz., upon the crank-shaft151-the strong retractile spring 22, hereinbefore described, isemployed, and it is obvious that the resistance of said spring to therearward movement of the crank-arm is sufficient to accomplish suchpurposes. Said spring also assists the cam in sliding the carrier backto its advanced position.

Returning now to the nail twisting or coiling sleeve, it will be noticedthat it is provided at its rear end with a centrally-perforated head162, and said head, when the carrier occupies its advanced position,`isadjacent to the pointed end of the shaft 124, as shown in Fig. 10. Saidhead for a distance of about one hundred and thirty degrees isthickened, such thick portion being provided at one side of theperforation of the head with a straight groove 163 and an alined passage164 and is gradually tapered or beveled down to the plane ofthe naturalface of the head, the junction of such beveled portion with said naturalface of the head taking place at the opposite side of the perforationfrom said groove and passage and extending preferably at about a rightangle to them, as shown at 165. When the segment 151 is depressed andthe horizontal sleeve consequently-arranged to receive the reduced endof the nail-Wire, said groove and passage are arranged in alinement withthe rectangular passage formed by and between the notches of the kniveshereinbefore described and with the hole or passage 75 in thestand-plate 35, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 26.

166 designates a plate secured upon plate 29 and provided with a pair ofarms 167 and 168, in which the transverselyextending rock-shaft 169 isjournaled. Said shaft at iis inner end is provided wi th adownwardlydisposed hook or forked arm 170, which is arranged `inlongitudinal alinement with the perforation of the head of the twistingor coiling sleeve, against which said hook nearly lies. Said shaft inorder to maintain said hook in vertical pendent position (shown clearlyin Fig. 7) is provided with an actuating-spring 171, which is coiledaround the shaft and engages at its opposite ends the arm 167 and a pin172, projecting from said shaft. In order to prevent said spring fromforcing said hook beyond such vertical plane and against the head ofsaid sleeve, a lug 173 projects from the shaft and bears against theshoulder 174 of said bearing-arm 167.

In practical operation after each nail is secured upon' the cable andthe latter moves rearward said nail bears against said hook and,overcoming the resistance of the spring 171, rotates said shaft until itpasses from engagement with said hook. Immediately this takes place thespring returns said hook to its normal position without interfering withIOO IIO

the movement of the cable, which it straddles, as shown clearly in Fig.7. In order that said nails may be coiled around the cable-wire, theymust first be caused to intersect the latter, and to accomplish this wehave provided the mechanism about to be described.

175 designates a plate or extension which is bolted or otherwise rigidlysecured upon the bed-plate or one of the plates secured thereto, andsaid plate extends laterally from the side of the machine occupied bythe plate 35 at an angle corresponding to that ot' the cutting edges ofthe knives, and mounted upon said plate at intervals are two or morebearingboxes 176 and one or more guide-bearings 177 for the nail-formingwire 178, mounted upon a reel or equivalent device (not shown) andextending between the straightening or guide rollers 179. Inward of saidguide-bearing 177 is an adjustable bearing-block 180, against which thedog 181 is actuated by the spring 182 to force the wire, the object ofsaid dog being to overcome the momentum acquired by and to check themovement of said wire due to the rotation of the reel, hereinbeforereferred to, upon which the supply of wire is coiled in practice. Saidwire also extends through the hollow sliding bolt 183, mounted in thebearing-boxes 176. Said bolt at a suitable point is formed with arectangular enlargement 181, provided with a depending arm 185,extendingthrough the slot 186 in the plate 175. A guide-rod 187, secured rigidlyto a depending lug 188 of said plate, extends through said arm 185, andspirally surrounding said rod, bearing at its opposite end against saidlug and said arm, is an expansive spring 189, which is adapted atintervals to force said bolt forward a sufficient distance to projectthe reduced extension of the nail-wire into the passage 164E of the wiretwisting or ceiling sleeve 147, as shown clearly in Fig. 11. In orderthat said wire shall be positively and reliably advanced with eachforward movement or shoot of the bolt, the enlargement of the latter isrecessed sufficiently to form a shoulder 190, against which the wirebears and is held by the spring-actuated dog 191, pivotally mounted uponsaid enlargement. The spring 192, engaging said dog, is attached at itsopposite end to the hook or arm 193, projecting also from saidenlargement. This dog, by impinging firmly against said wire, preventsit from slipping and consequently insures its advance with eachcorresponding movement on the part of the bolt. To retract said boltafter each advance, the collar 194E is mounted rigidly upon thelongitudinal shaft 195, journaled in bearings supported by thebed-frame, and owing to the fact that said wire feeding mechanism movesback and forth with the carrier said collar is made of length toaccommodate such movement and is provided at diametrically oppositepoints with the arms 196 in orderthat the bolt may be retracted twice ineach revolution of the shaft 195. Said shaft is provided with a beveledgear 197, which meshes with a small gear 198 upon the transverse shaft199, journaled in bearings supported by the bed-frame, and said shaft atits opposite end carries the beveled gear 200, which meshes continuouslywith and is driven by the similar gear 201 upon shaft 12.

By the employment of the dogs 177 and 191, arranged as described, it isobvious that the latter may grasp the wire and feed it forward with eachcorresponding movement of the bolt without any material opposition onthe part of the former, but at the same time said dog 181, after thewire has been fed forward the requisite distance, checks the tendencytoward further movement of the same due to the momentum acquired by therotation of the reel, and consequently prevents any buckling or bendingof the wire between said dog and the point where it enters the bolt, andit is equally obvious that upon the withdrawal of the bolt after eachadvance movement said dog 181 by impinging firmly against the wirecounteraets any tendency toward backward movement of the same which itmight acquire through the frictional contact with the dog 191 as itmoves back with the bolt.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanyingillustrations, it will be obvious that the nail-wire is fed forward soas to intersect the cable an instant before the carrier slides rearward,and that as the sleeve 147 twists the diminished end of the nail-wiretightly around the cable the reci procating knife 51 advances and inconjunction with the stationary knife synchronously splits from the bodyof the wire and severs from the advanced portion thereof a piece of wirecorresponding in form tothe cutting edge of the knife 51, the ends ofsaid portion being beveled to correspond with the cutting edges 61 and62 of said knife, and owing to the fact that the vertical distancebetween the upper and lower ends of the cutting edge 62 is equal to thethickness of the wire the advanced portion is severed so as to completethe formation of and sharpen the lower end of a nail. At the same timeof course that the said portion is split from the body of the wire theadvanced end of the latter is reduced in thickness for a distance equalto the length of the cutting edge 60, as will also be clearly understoodby referring to Fig. 24.

At the same time that the abovementioned operations are taking place thenail next in advance of that which is being coiled or twisted upon thecable has reached a point opposite the middle of the barbing-knives 100and 104, the cable-wire being prevented from sagging for the length ofthe carrier by the guide-plate 202, secured by screw-bolts 203 to theinner side of the plate 34, as shown clearly in Fig. 10. Immediatelysaid advanced nail has assumed its proper position between said knives,with its head (represented by the coiled end) and the longitudinallyextended cable occupying the passage formed by the opposing IOO IIO

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grooves 98 and 112, the crank-shaft 32 causes the lever 88 to movedownwardly and cause a slight movement of the slide-frame 82, so thatthe upper knife 100 will impinge tightly upon the nail, as shown clearlyin Fig. 8, in order that the opposing shoulders 99 and 113 shall engagethe shank of the nail adjacent to its head and bend it sufficiently todispose its longitudinal axis in the same plane as the axis of thecable-wire, and at the same time the coiled head is pressed tightlybetween the grooved surfaces of said knives and elongated slightly, sothat it will be impossible for the nail to turn upon the cable, or, inother words, to fix the relation between each nail and the cable so thatall of the nails shall project rigidly in the same direction from thecable. An instant after the clamping operation has taken place one ofthe arms 123 of the collar 122 engages the lever 118 and forces it tothe position indicated in Fig. 8. This operation l of course advancessimultaneously the knives 100 and 104 against the upper and lower sidesof the shank of the nail and thereby barbs or roughens the same, so thatit would be practically impossible for the nail to work looseaccidentally after once being driven home in the box or otherreceptacle.

The means hereinbefore described for twisting the Wires 132 to form thecable are timed with respect to the operation of the nailtwistingsleeve, so that as soon as the coiling of the reduced end of the nailupon the cable is completed (and is consequently withdrawn from thepassage 164 in order that it may be simultaneously freed from engagementwith the twisted sleeve by the continued movement of the cable to therear and the opposite or forward movement of said sleeve with thecarrier and its simultaneous back rotation, which' disengages the shankof the nail from the groove 163) it begins to twist the wire from saidnail in the opposite direction to its twist at the opposite side of saidnail, and such twisting movement continues until the carrier has reachedthe limit of its advance movement and a second nail is shot by the bolt183 into engagement with the twisting-sleeve and is coiled by the latterupon the cable, and at the same time the nail in advance has assumed aposition between the barbing-knives and the carrier begins again itsrearward movement and slides the sleeve 14:7 rearwardly upon the mandrelend of the shaft 124, which at this instant has again reversed itsrotatable operation and twists the wire within said sleeve and inadvance of theA last nail secured on the cable, the length of saidtwisted portion being determined, of course, by the distance betweensaid twisted nail and the pointed end of said shaft. The

carrier then moves forward again and the ceeding operations arerepetitions of those described.

In order to feed the cable continuously and with a positive and uniformmovement through the machine, we employ the following elements-that isto say, 204 designates a short transverse shaft which is interposedbetween the carrier and the shaft 199 and is j ournaled in bearings 205upon the bed-frame, and 206 is a similar and parallel shaft which isjournaled in bearings 207 near the rear end of said bed-frame. Mountedrigidly upon said shaft are the sprocket-wheels 208, each provided,preferably, with four sets of teeth, two in a set, said sets beingdisposed so as to leave a blank or toothless space between each setexceeding the length of one link of the endless chain 209 connectingsaid sprocketwheels and extending longitudinally of the machine, withits upper portion slightly be-A low the axis of the cable, and mountedrigidly upon or cast integral with certain of said links (in thisinstance every fourth link) are the bifurcated boxes 210, and rigidlymounted within the bifurcations of said boxes upon thetransversely-extending pins 211, journaled rotatably in said boxes, arethe forked arms 212, which 'are adapted successively as ,they rise inthe direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2, to straddle the cable andcome into engagement with one of its nails at its front side, so as toapply a positive and reliable pressure against them and insure by suchforce feed that the cable shall move through the twisting-shaft 124 at auniform rate of speed. As it is necessary, however, that such hookarmsshall positively and reliably be freed or disengaged from the nails andcable when they start on their downward course around the rearsprocket-wheel 208, which could not be reliably accomplished if theyprojected always at right angles from the chain, we mount rigidly uponthe extended ends of the pins 211 the weights 213, in the shape ofelongated arms extending at about right angles to their respectivehook-arms, each of which arms by gravity just before reaching the upperside of the forward sprocket-wheel 208 assumes a vertical position, soas to hold its corresponding fork-arm projecting rearwardly and pref--erably inclined slightly downward toward its free end. Just at themoment it assumes this position the fork-arm is adjacent to the lowerside of the cable and below one of the nails projecting laterallytherefrom, and at substantially the same instant the pendent weightcomes in contact with the beveled guide-arm 214, projecting forwardlyfrom the under side of the horizontally-slotted guideframe 215 andextending longitudinally of the machine and supported upon the verticalstandard 216, mountedupon the bed-plate.. By `this arrangement it isobvious that as soon as said weight cornes in contact with thestationary guide 213 the continued movement of the chain causes it topivotally operate until it has assumed a horizontal position IOC IIO

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and its corresponding forked arm has straddled the cable and theguide-bar 217 (carried by brackets 21S of frame 215) from below andcontacted with the front side of the rearwardlymoving nail, and thisrelation is maintained un til the fork-arm nearly reaches the rear endof the machine, owing to the fact that said weight passes from saidguide-arm into the horizontal grooved frame 214C, from which it emergesadjacent to the rearmost sprocket-wheel, and at the moment of suchdisengagement by gravity it again assumes a vertically-pendent positionand pivotally operates its corresponding fork-arm downwardly andtherefore out of engagement with the cable and said nail. Thisperformance takes place continuously as long as the machine is inoperation, and by reason of the fact that the guide-frame 214 is ofgreater vlength than the distance between two of the nails on the cableor two of said fork-arms it is obvious that said cable is moved at alltimes by a positivelyapplied pressure, so that no slipping or bucklingcan take place. Lateral movement is also prevented by reason of theengagement of the fork-arms with the said longitudinal guide-bar 217. Inorder to drive said chain at corresponding speed, we mount upon one endof the shaft 201 the spurgear 218, which meshes continuously with and isdriven by the gear-pinion 21S upon the shaft 190, as shown clearly inFig. 1.

From the above description it will be apparent that we have produced amachine for manufacturing flexible metallic box-straps which is positiveand reliable in operation and which, as has been demonstrated, iscapable of turning out about fifty feet of said strap per minute, whichmay be cut in pieces of any desired length by hand or by anautomatically-operating knife. The wire which forms the cable extendsthrough the disk 130 from a suitable reel, which need not be illustratedor described in this connection. It is to be understood, of course, thatwe reserve the right to make all such changes in the form, detailedconstruction, or organization of parts, and reserve the right to the useof all mechanical equivalents which properly fall within the spirit andscope of our invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a suitable framework, ofan oscillatory wire-twisting shaft therein provided with passagesthrough which the wire extends, a periodically-advanced bolt arranged atan angle to said shaft, means to advance a wire with each advance ofsaid bolt and cause it to intersect the first-named wires at their underside, means to twist or coil said wire tightly upon the first-namedwires, and to sever said wire at a point between the front end of saidbolt and the first-named wire, substantially as described.

2. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a wire twisting shaftprovided with grooves or passages for the wire, and a mechanism forperiodically projecting the end of a second wire across the path andjust below the wire of said twisting-shaft, of means for twisting orcoiling said projecting end of the latter wire upon the former, meansfor severing such twisted or coiled end from the body of the wire andmeans for reversing the direction of rotation of said twisting-shafteach time the intersecting wire coils upon the irstnamed or cable wire,substantially as described.

3. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a wire twisting shaftprovided with grooves or passages for the wire, and a mechanism forperiodically projecting the end of a second wire across the path andjust below the wire of said twisting-shaft, of means for.

twisting or coiling said projecting end of the latter wire upon theformer, means for severing such twisted or coiled end from the body ofsaid wire, means for reversing the direction of rotation of saidtwisting-shaft each time the intersecting wire coils upon the firstnamedor cable wire, and a reciprocatory carrier for advancing the mechanismfor feeding and eoilin g the last-named wire, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a suitable framework, agrooved wiretwisting shaft therein, and means for operating said shaftfirst in one direction and then reversing such movement, of mechanismfor twisting or coiling a stiff wire upon the cable formed by the wiresof the twisting-shaft at its period of rest-that is, at the moment itceases to rotate in one direction and begins to rotate in the oppositedirection, substantially as described.

5. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a suitable framework, agrooved wiretwisting shaft therein, and means for operating said shaftirst in one direction and then reversing such movement, of mechanism fortwisting or coiling a stiff wire upon the cable formed by the wires ofthe twisting-shaft at its period of rest-that is, at the moment itceases to operate in one direction and begins to operate in the oppositedirection-and means for severing the twisted or coiled end of said wirefrom its body portion, substantially as described.

G. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a suitable framework, agrooved wiretwisting shaft therein, and means for operating said shaftfirst in one direction and then reversing such movement, of mechanismfor twisting or coiling a stiff wire upon the cable formed by the wiresof the twisting-shaft at its period of rest-that is, at the moment itceases to rotate in one direction and begins to rotate in the oppositedi rection-and means for splitting said wire for a suitable distance andsevering it from its body portion, so as to leave the latter with areduced extension, and

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the twisted portion with a pointed or sharpened shank, substantially asset forth.

7. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a suitable framework, agrooved wiretwisting shaft therein, and means for operating said shaftfirst in one direction and then reversing such movement, of mechanismfor twisting or coiling a stiff wire upon the cable formed by the Wiresof the twisting-shaft at its period of rest-that is, at the moment itceases to rotate in one direction and begins to rotate in the oppositedirection-means for splitting said wire for a suitable distance andsevering it from its body portion, so as to leave the latter with areduced extension and the twisted portion with a pointed or sharpenedshank, means for feeding the cable longitudinally with the nail twistedthereon, and barbing-knives to engage said nail and serrate or roughenits sides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a suitable framework, agrooved wiretwisting shaft therein, and means for operatingsaid shaftfirst in one direction and then reversing such movement, of mechanismfor twisting or coiling a stiff wire upon the cable formed by the wiresof the twisting-shaft at its period of rest-that is, at the moment itceases to rotate in one direction and begins to rotate in the oppositedirection-means for splitting said wire for a suitable distance andsevering it from its body portion, so as to leave the latterwith areduced extension and the twisted portion with a sharpened or pointedshank, means for feeding the cable longitudinally with the nail twistedthereon, and means for slightly elongating the coil or head of said nailto make it rigid relative to the cable, substantially as described.

9. In a box-strap machine, the combination with a suitable framework, agrooved wiretwisting shaft therein, and means for operating said shaftfirst in one direction and then reversing such movement, of mechanismfor twisting or coiling a stiff wire upon the cable formed by the wiresof the twisting-shaft at its period of rest-that is, at the moment itceases to rotate in one direction and begins to rotate in the oppositedirection-means for splitting said wire for a suitable distance andsevering it from its body portion, so as to leave the latter with areduced extension and the twisted portion with a sharpened or pointedshank, means for feeding the cable longitudinally with the nail twistedthereon,

- means for slightly elongating the coil or head of said nail to make itrigid relative to the cable, and barbing-knives to engage the shank ofsaid nail and serrate or roughen its sides, substantially as described.

10. InaboX-strapInachine,thecombination with a suitable framework, agrooved wiretwisting shaft therein, and means for operating said shaftfirst in one direction and then reversing such movement, of mechanismfor twisting or coiling a stiff wire upon the cable formed by the wiresof the twisting-shaft at its period of rest-that is, at the moment itceases to rotate in one direction and begins to rotate in the oppositedirection--means for splitting said wire for a suitable distance andsevering it from its' body portion, so as to leave the latter with areduced extension and the twisted portionwith a sharpened or pointedshank, means for feeding the cable longitudinally with the nail twistedthereon, means for slightly elon gatin g the coil or head of said nailto make it rigid relative to the cable, barbing-knives to engage theshank of said nail and serrate or roughen its sides, levers to advancesaid barbing-knives, means to periodically operate them, and means tocause their automatic disengagement from the nailshanks, substantiallyas described.

ll. In a box-strap machine, the combination of a suitable framework, andmechanism for advancing a cable-wire'longitudinally thereof, and forcoiling upon said cable-wire at intervals laterally-projectingnails,with a frame upon said framework, a vertically-sliding` frameabove that first named, and means each time a nail assumes a positionabove said firstnamed frame to cause the last-named frame to movedownward and clamp tightly and thereby elongate the coil or head of saidnail between said clamping-frames, substantially as described.

12. IuaboX-strap machine,the combination with a suitable framework, andmechanism for advancing a cable-wire longitudinally thereof, and forcoiling uponsaid cable-wire at intervals laterally-projecting nails, ofa longitudinally grooved frame upon said framework, a barbing-knifemounted to slide therein, a superposed grooved frame, a barbin g-knifesuperposed with relation to the firstnamed knife and carried by thesuperposed frame, and means to cause first the descent of saidsuperposed frame, that it may clamp the head of the nail tightly betweensaid grooves, and then the advance of said knives upon the shank of saidnail, substantially as described.

18. In a box-strap machin e,the combination with a suitable framework,mechanism for feeding a cable longitudinally thereon, and mechanism forforming nails and securing them tightly upon said cable at regularintervals, a frame carrying a sliding barbingknife, a vertically-slidingframe above the same and carrying abarbing-knife which converges towardthe other, a lever engaging said vertically-sliding frame, and acrankshaft connected to said lever and adapted to raise and lower saidframe and its knife, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. In a box-strap machine,the combination with a suitable framework,mechanism for feeding the cable longitudinally thereof, and

mechanism for forming and securing nails tightly upon said cable atintervals, of a IOO IIO

